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Lamine Yamal exceeds the minute limit and Barça pays the international price
Lamine Yamal has played more minutes than promised by the Spanish coach, and Cubarsí has reached the limit. Barça sees how the management of its young stars is slipping out of its hands during the international break.
De la Fuente’s promise falls short for Barça’s young players
Promises made, promises broken? That’s how Barça felt after the latest international break. Luis de la Fuente, the Spain manager, had assured that no international would play more than 270 minutes in this first window of the season. However, Lamine Yamal ended up playing 281 minutes, and Pau Cubarsí hit the exact limit with 270. For the club, the physical toll on their young talents keeps rising while control slips away.
The Lamine Yamal case and the broken promise
Lamine Yamal wasn’t just the most heavily used player for Spain, but also the standout performer in the Nations League qualifiers: four goals and an assist in four matches. But what hurts most in the Barça dressing room is that the winger played 11 minutes more than De la Fuente had set as the maximum for all internationals. Cubarsí, meanwhile, reached the limit after playing the full 90 minutes against Croatia. At a club obsessed with careful player management, the manager’s word is now in doubt.
How many minutes have Barça’s players played?
The rest of Barça’s internationals stayed below the threshold: Rodri played 256 minutes and scored a goal, Dani Olmo 220 minutes and three assists, Pedri 206 minutes and one assist, Bernal 119, Fermín López 99, and Espart 90. Eric Garcia, who left the squad on 27 September due to discomfort in his left knee, has already returned to training as normal.
In total, nine Barça players—including Eric Garcia—were called up between the senior and under-21 squads, racking up more than 1,500 minutes in this international window. The Barça contingent directly contributed to 10 goals: five scored (four by Lamine Yamal and one by Rodri) and five assists (three from Olmo, one from Pedri, and one from Lamine Yamal). Their contribution was key for Spain to reach the Nations League quarter-finals and to maintain a 42-match unbeaten run.
The FIFA virus doesn’t care about age
Minute management is a concern not just for the present, but for the immediate future of these young players. Barça, who closely monitor the physical load on their prospects, see how the Spanish national team sets the pace for their most valuable footballers. Spain’s reliance on Barça players is clear, but so is the risk of overuse.
Barça internationals around the world
Outside the Spanish national team, Barça’s backup goalkeeper Livakovic was the most used of all: 360 minutes with Croatia, though he conceded 14 goals. João Cancelo played 305 minutes for Portugal and scored twice. Anthony Gordon shone for England: 220 minutes, three goals, and an assist. Kounde played 180 minutes for France and Adeyemi 154 for Germany, providing an assist. Raphinha, after a travel ordeal and a muscle edema in his right thigh, was limited to 135 minutes and a goal for Brazil. Bisiwu played 69 minutes for Belgium, and the young Hamza, 52 minutes and a goal for Egypt.
Who’s looking after the young talents?
The reality is that Barça remains the engine of the Spanish national team, but also the club taking the biggest risks with their players’ health. When promises of caution turn out to be empty, the club faces an uncomfortable paradox: their best players are essential for Spain, but it’s Xavi’s team that pays the price. If minute management doesn’t improve, the FIFA virus will continue to be a headache for Barça and for any fan hoping to see Lamine Yamal and company at their best at Camp Nou.